2/17/2025 - Saint Helena, CA - Premiere Napa Valley, North America's most renowned wine auction and business event, officially kicks off this week, marking its 29th year as Napa Valley’s top gathering for the wine trade. Celebrating the debut of the exceptional 2023 vintage, the event will offer industry professionals the chance to acquire exclusive micro-lots from one of Napa Valley's most anticipated vintages.
“Premiere Napa Valley is the quintessential event where our community comes together to debut the latest vintage. It also gives winemakers an opportunity to showcase the extraordinary lengths they go through to make such an exclusive wine. The level of quality is unparalleled,” said Jason Moulton, Director of Winemaking and Viticulture for Whitehall Lane Winery and co-chair of this year’s Premiere Napa Valley.
While in-person registration has sold out, wine trade members from around the world can still participate in the auction via Sotheby’s. Trade members bidding virtually can register to bid at Sotheby’s now through Friday, February 21.
Premiere Napa Valley Wines
Each year, Napa Valley winemakers showcase their most creative and expressive wines at Premiere Napa Valley. The auction features lots sold in 5, 10 or 20-case increments, offering a select opportunity to acquire the rarest commercially available wines from Napa Valley. Each lot reflects a unique story of place, vintage and vision.
This year’s auction features 194 distinct Premiere Napa Valley wine lots, including 167 from the 2023 vintage. Also noteworthy are the 16 partnership lots, with 36 wineries taking part. These joint lots serve as a testament to the strength of camaraderie among Napa Valley’s winemaking community and the innovative spirit that defines the region.
Widely praised by both winemakers and critics, the 2023 vintage is already being hailed as one of Napa Valley’s most exceptional. Renowned wine writer Karen MacNeil summed it up by saying, "Every century, every place has its legendary vintages. I have no doubt that 2023 will go down as one of the most phenomenal vintages ever in Napa Valley."
The Best Week in the Napa Valley Wine Business
Premiere Napa Valley is the ultimate destination for wine professionals looking to discover new brands, expand their portfolios and strengthen relationships with key industry partners. Throughout the week, more than 30 winery-hosted tastings and events will offer invaluable opportunities for in-person networking and exploration of Napa Valley's current and upcoming vintages.
Premiere Napa Valley will also feature a special session led by Jeb Dunnuck of jebdunnuck.com, who will explore the 2023 vintage with top Napa Valley winemakers including Thomas Rivers Brown, Rosemary Cakebread, Maayan Koschitzky and Jennifer Williams. This session is available to all wine trade and enthusiasts and takes place virtually on Tuesday, February 18th, 2025, at 10:00 AM PT.
“As our trade partners bid on, purchase, promote and sell these wines nationally and internationally, we want to recognize the positive contribution they make to our community and our industry each year,” said Moulton. Proceeds from the Premiere Napa Valley auction go toward the Napa Valley Vintners’ (NVV) mission to promote, protect and enhance Napa Valley.
In addition to fundraising for programs that fulfill NVV's mission, the organization is also accepting contributions to help fund national campaigns that bring wine to the forefront of consumers’ minds such as Why Wine? among other similar industry initiatives that highlight wine’s unique attributes and support efforts to change the conversation about wine.
About Napa Valley Vintners
The Napa Valley Vintners nonprofit trade association has been cultivating excellence since 1944 by inspiring its nearly 550 members to consistently produce wines of the highest quality, provide environmental leadership and care for the extraordinary place they call home. NVV has invested more than $230 million in community healthcare, youth development and the environment in Napa County, and is a champion of inclusivity in its community and industry. Learn more at napavintners.com.
Contact: Teresa Wall, Senior Director of Communications - 707-968-4210, twall@napavintners.com
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